Enhanced electrical conductivity and hardness of Copper/Carbon Nanotubes composite by tuning the interface structure

Abstract Interface control is an important method to improve the properties of Copper/Carbon Nanotubes composite. In this work, different kinds of carbide formation elements like Nb, Zr, Mo, Ti, or W is mechanically added into Cu to form composite with Carbon Nanotubes. The element doping leads carbides formed at the interface and makes the composite achieve simultaneously high electrical conductivity and high hardness by improving the wettability and interface bonding force between Cu and Carbon Nanotubes. The sintered composite doping with W possesses the optimal performance with the electrical conductivity about 96.6%IACS, the hardness about 68.54 HV. The nano sized W2C phase formed at the interface contributes to the high performance.